{"title":"In vivo assessment of human corneal epithelial cells in orthokeratology lens wearers: A pilot study.","authors":"Hadiya F Pattan, Xiao Liu, Patrice Tankam","doi":"10.1097/OPX.0000000000002130","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Significance: </strong>Central corneal epithelial thinning associated with midperipheral epithelial thickening has been reported as the main factor contributing to the effectiveness of orthokeratology (ortho-k) in myopia control. Yet, the cellular mechanism governing the regional change in refractive power remains elusive.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the regional change in corneal epithelial thickness and cell density in ortho-k wearers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A new human prototype of a polarization-dependent optical coherence microscope was developed to enable noncontact and noninvasive in vivo imaging of corneal epithelial cells in ortho-k wearers with and without their ortho-k lens. The epithelial thickness and cell density were evaluated at the central and midperipheral corneal locations in four ortho-k wearers and four spectacle wearers serving as controls.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Polarization-dependent optical coherence microscope achieved in vivo volumetric imaging of all epithelial cell types in ortho-k wearers with and without their lens over a field of view of 0.5 × 0.5 mm 2 with an isotropic resolution of ~2.2 mm. The central epithelial thinning and midperipheral epithelial thickening were consistent across all ortho-k wearers. However, the inconsistency in their regional epithelial cell density highlighted a great variability in individual response to ortho-k treatment. There was no strong correlation between epithelial thickness and cell density, especially at the midperipheral cornea, in ortho-k participants.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study constitutes our first step toward uncovering the cellular mechanism underlying the effectiveness of ortho-k in myopia control. Future studies will focus on the longitudinal evaluation of epithelial cells before and during ortho-k treatment to identify factors governing individual response to ortho-k treatment and ultimately inform the dynamics of epithelial cells taking place during the ortho-k treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":19649,"journal":{"name":"Optometry and Vision Science","volume":" ","pages":"263-271"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Optometry and Vision Science","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/OPX.0000000000002130","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/4/25 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"OPHTHALMOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Significance: Central corneal epithelial thinning associated with midperipheral epithelial thickening has been reported as the main factor contributing to the effectiveness of orthokeratology (ortho-k) in myopia control. Yet, the cellular mechanism governing the regional change in refractive power remains elusive.
Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the regional change in corneal epithelial thickness and cell density in ortho-k wearers.
Methods: A new human prototype of a polarization-dependent optical coherence microscope was developed to enable noncontact and noninvasive in vivo imaging of corneal epithelial cells in ortho-k wearers with and without their ortho-k lens. The epithelial thickness and cell density were evaluated at the central and midperipheral corneal locations in four ortho-k wearers and four spectacle wearers serving as controls.
Results: Polarization-dependent optical coherence microscope achieved in vivo volumetric imaging of all epithelial cell types in ortho-k wearers with and without their lens over a field of view of 0.5 × 0.5 mm 2 with an isotropic resolution of ~2.2 mm. The central epithelial thinning and midperipheral epithelial thickening were consistent across all ortho-k wearers. However, the inconsistency in their regional epithelial cell density highlighted a great variability in individual response to ortho-k treatment. There was no strong correlation between epithelial thickness and cell density, especially at the midperipheral cornea, in ortho-k participants.
Conclusions: This study constitutes our first step toward uncovering the cellular mechanism underlying the effectiveness of ortho-k in myopia control. Future studies will focus on the longitudinal evaluation of epithelial cells before and during ortho-k treatment to identify factors governing individual response to ortho-k treatment and ultimately inform the dynamics of epithelial cells taking place during the ortho-k treatment.
期刊介绍:
Optometry and Vision Science is the monthly peer-reviewed scientific publication of the American Academy of Optometry, publishing original research since 1924. Optometry and Vision Science is an internationally recognized source for education and information on current discoveries in optometry, physiological optics, vision science, and related fields. The journal considers original contributions that advance clinical practice, vision science, and public health. Authors should remember that the journal reaches readers worldwide and their submissions should be relevant and of interest to a broad audience. Topical priorities include, but are not limited to: clinical and laboratory research, evidence-based reviews, contact lenses, ocular growth and refractive error development, eye movements, visual function and perception, biology of the eye and ocular disease, epidemiology and public health, biomedical optics and instrumentation, novel and important clinical observations and treatments, and optometric education.